HGVs have speed limiters because UK speed limiter regulations, based on 1992 EU directives, require heavy goods vehicles to be electronically restricted to 56mph. The limiter controls fuel delivery so the lorry cannot go faster, however hard the pedal is pressed.
Heavy goods vehicles are often ahead of the motoring curve when it comes to safety and comfort technologies, and one of the most notable examples of this is the speed limiter.
Whilst mandatory electronic speed limiters have only recently been added to cars , people taking HGV courses are well aware of the mandatory limiters installed onto lorries across the country.
Lorry speed limits UK
In Scotland and the European Union, these limiters are set to 56mph (90kph) and whilst the speed limit in England and Wales for dual carriageways and motorways is 60 mph for HGVs, many keep the limiter at 56 mph regardless, to allow for overtaking and downhill speed increases.
The speed limiter rule was initially part of the European Council Directive 62/6/EEC in February 1992 and required all HGVs with a maximum gross weight of over 7.5 tonnes to be fitted with a limiter calibrated at 60 mph (96 kph).
This was similar to EU regulations from 1988, which required all HGVs above 12 tonnes to have an electronic limiter set at 90 kph (56 mph).
Eventually, these rules were harmonised in 2001, and the speed limiter requirements for all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes were set at 56mph.
These types of limiters work by restricting fuel flow, meaning that once the lorry reaches the limiter maximum speed, the restrictor takes effect and it becomes far more difficult to accelerate further, encouraging drivers to focus on maintaining speed and staying alert for potential hazards.
The limiter has helped considerably to improve the safety of British roads and keep people safe, however, it is not a complete replacement for mindful, cautious driving.
Besides the fact that many of Britain’s roads have speed limits far lower than 56mph, there are ways to reach higher speeds, and it is important to drive with due care and attention at all times.
Are speed limiters mandatory on HGVs?
Yes. The rule described above developed from European requirements first applied to the heaviest lorries and was later harmonised for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. The limiter setting does not replace the posted road limit: where the legal limit is lower, the driver must follow the lower figure.
Why the limiter is set to 56mph
The familiar figure is 90 kilometres per hour converted to miles per hour. That is why the setting looks unusually specific in Britain. Earlier rules used different thresholds and weight bands, but the harmonised requirement made 90kph, or 56mph, the figure drivers now recognise.
What the limiter does while driving
The limiter restricts fuel flow once the calibrated maximum is reached, so pressing the accelerator does not keep building speed in the normal way. It controls powered acceleration; it does not remove the driver’s responsibility to watch speed on descents, maintain a safe gap or respond to a lower road limit.
The practical lesson for trainee drivers
A limiter is one control within the vehicle, not an automatic safety system for every road situation. Safe progress still depends on planning, observation and speed choice. Drivers must leave room for the lorry’s weight and stopping distance, especially where traffic ahead changes speed or the road falls downhill.
If you are preparing for HGV training in Glasgow, the course pages explain the licence categories and practical training route. This article answers the speed-limiter question; the training page is the place to discuss C1, Category C or C+E.
See our Class 2 HGV training for the Category C course and practical driving route.
What the limiter means for you as a learner
During Category C and C+E training you will learn to plan overtakes and motorway joins around a vehicle that simply will not accelerate past its set speed. Reading the road further ahead matters far more than engine power.
Your practical test is taken in a limited vehicle, so examiners expect you to judge gaps and merging speed realistically rather than relying on a burst of acceleration.
Frequently asked questions
Heavy goods vehicles are fitted with speed limiters set at 56mph under rules dating back to 1992 EU directives.
Yes. Planning around a limited top speed is part of on-road training on our Category C and C+E courses in Glasgow.
For goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight, the national limits in England and Wales are 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways. In Scotland they are 40mph on single carriageways, 50mph on dual carriageways and 60mph on motorways. Follow any lower posted limit and drive more slowly when conditions require it; the vehicle's limiter can restrict speed below the road limit.